In ancient times, the Yoruba had not developed writing. History was kept by certain historians, kept at Oyo under the king. These historians handed down history through generations via their family lineage until the collapse of the Oyo Empire.
Early medieval explorers of central and northern Africa made contact with the Yoruba at the height of the Oyo empire when the kingdom’s domain extended from the River Niger on the East, to the shores of the Volta in the West, including the lands of the Ashanti, Dahomey, Egbado and Benin peoples, down to the coast in Lagos and Porto Novo in present day Benin Republic. Thus, in ancient European archives (Webster’s gazette for instance), the country is called its Hausa name ‘Yoruba’, with its capital in Katunga (old Oyo) and its population estimated to be about 2million.
History has a lot to teach us. It is said that we study history to learn from the past, what we must do, or must not do, to build the future we want for ourselves. The history of the Oyo empire shows that kingdoms don’t last forever but transform into another.
From the 15th century to the present day, Oyo has had 37 kings. These kings are all dead except one, yet the living has many things to learn from the ancient dead. In this series, we will examine the ascension and reign of each Oyo monarch, and take all the lessons we can learn from their stories.
- Oranmiyan
Part 1: Introduction and the early kings
Early medieval explorers of central and northern Africa made contact with the Yoruba at the height of the Oyo empire when the kingdom’s domain extended from the River Niger on the East, to the shores of the Volta in the West, including the lands of the Ashanti, Dahomey, Egbado and Benin peoples, down to the coast in Lagos and Porto Novo in present day Benin Republic. Thus, in ancient European archives (Webster’s gazette for instance), the country is called its Hausa name ‘Yoruba’, with its capital in Katunga (old Oyo) and its population estimated to be about 2million.
Contrary to the assumption of many, the Yoruba have a well documented history, dating from the earliest times of the Oyo empire, to the modern day. In ancient times, the Yoruba had not developed writing. The history is kept by certain historians, kept at Oyo under the king. These historians handed down history through generations via their family lineage until the collapse of the Oyo empire.
The following is the chronicles of the kings of the Oyo empire from the earliest times to the present day.
- Oranmiyan
- Ajaka
- Sango
- Ajaka’s second reign
The period of these first three kings is full of fables and myths, and is often referred to by historians as a prehistoric period. All the three kings became gods that people worship to this day.
Part 2: Before the Decline
- Aganju
- Kori
- Oluaso
- Onigbogi
- Ofinran
The next four kings ruled from a town called Igboho.
- Erugunoju
- Oromoto
- Ajiboyede
- Abipa
Abipa was succeeded by a series of despotic, short-lived kings. After the interlude, more kings emerged.
- Obalokun
- Ajagbo
- Odarawu
- Kanran
- Jayin
- Ayibi
- Osinyago
For a long time after Osinyago, the throne was vacant and the country was ruled by the Basoruns (Prime ministers)
- Ojigi
- Gberu
- Amuniwaiye
- Onisile
- Labisi
- Awonbioju
- Agboluaje
- Majeogbe
- Abiodun
- Aole Arogangan
Part 3: Decline, Wars, British Colonialism, and Nigeria
- Adebo
- Maku
The period that followed was the Yoruba civil wars of the 19th century. Between 1800 and 1897, the Yoruba fought a series of wars that decimated huge portions of the country and caused a considerable amount of internal migration. Many large cities were destroyed completely, never to be rebuilt. New cities sprang up, from refugee camps or military bases.
- Majotu
- Amodo
- Oluewu
- Atiba Atobatele
- Adelu
Kings under the British Empire:
38. Adeyemi 1
39. Lawani Agogoja
40. Siyanbola Oladigbolu 1
Kings under Nigeria
- Adeyemi II(1945-1955)
- Gbadegesin Oladigbolu II(1956-1968)
- Lamidi Adeyemi III(1970-2022)
Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi III passed away in April 2022 at 83 years old. He was a colourful and vibrant king who married many wives